The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has lauded the courage of workers facing daily risks of infections and death because of COVID-19.
The National President of the union, Mr Williams Akporeha, and the General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale, gave the commendation in a joint statement on Thursday in Lagos.
Both leaders gave the commendation to commemorate Workers’ Day, to be marked on May 1.
“We salute the indomitable and patriotic fighting spirit of oil and gas workers, medical workers, law enforcement agents, market men and women, farmers, journalists, drivers and other essential service workers for their invaluable services to the nation.
“We pray that God will continue to protect and strengthen them in this struggle as they discharge their humane, legitimate and selfless services to humanity,” the duo said.
They also commended the Department of Petroleum Resources for supporting the operations of oil and gas companies during the lockdown.
According to them, the support has succeeded in preventing stoppage of operations and unnecessary loss of jobs by workers.
The duo, however, told oil and gas companies not to exploit the current pandemic to inflict precarious and unfair labour practices on workers already traumatized emotionally and psychologically.
“The fear of how the workers are going to fare against the unknown enemy and the current economic hardships are already creating social upheavals.
“This is so to such an extent that any further loss of jobs in our industry will achieve nothing but complications and aggravation of an already bad situation.
“This is the time we should all come together to develop ways and means to save human race from the pandemic, rather than being pre-occupied with issues of pecuniary gains.
“We earnestly demand mutual sacrifices and cooperation so that we can collectively defeat COVID-19 and the associated hunger in the land for a better tomorrow.”
The duo called on government to deepen the spread and expand the quantity of palliatives being put in place for the populace.
According to them, this is to cushion the impact of the pandemic and its associated lockdown on economic activities and the earning power of individuals and corporate entities.
The unionists also told government to reach out to indigent and vulnerable people to ease their pains and hardships.
